Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Alabama

Change Region

comments

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, during his inaugural address, challenges residents to help move city forward

Mobile City Councilman Fredrick D. Richardson Jr. gives remarks during a ceremonial swearing-in event Monday night, Nov. 4, 2013, at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile, Ala. Earlier the same day, city officials were sworn in during a ceremony at Government Plaza in Mobile. (Mike Brantley/mbrantley@al.com)

MOBILE, Alabama – As he accepted the challenge of being
mayor of Alabama's third largest city for the next four year, Sandy Stimpson made
a challenge of his own.

"Will you reach across any divide and say to your fellow
citizens, 'I am joining with you for a better tomorrow?'" Stimpson said during
his inauguration address Monday at the Arthur R. Outlaw Convention Center in downtown
Mobile.

"Will you join me in committing that you will do something
today that you didn't do yesterday and move this city forward?" Stimpson
continued. "Will you take pride in Mobile and promote our city to those within,
as well as beyond, our city limits?"

Stimpson's challenges for Mobilians came during an address
in which he recited his successful "One Mobile" campaign slogan, urged the city
to create a business-friendly environment, and move the city toward a goal of
safety.

"Law enforcement alone won't solve our problem," Stimpson
said. "We need responsible citizens who are willing to step up and join with
local government if we're going to reach our goal."

"I am humbled and honored and excited to be your mayor,"
Stimpson said. "Tonight, we are entrusted with a charge we must keep, a charge
to serve the people of this city with servant leadership and stewardship. We
are responsible for the direction of this city and we must work to ensure that the
city moves forward together."

How the city moves forward varies among councilors.

Councilman Fred Richardson, who has already vocalized some
concerns about Stimpson's administrative selections, gave a fiery speech in
which he implored the new mayor to host a retreat to bring the entire council
up-to-speed on city finances and to be accessible to council members on neighborhood
matters.

"I don't want no $9-an-hour person answering my requests,"
Richardson said. "If the mayor can't answer me, I want a director to answer me.
If I say a ditch needs cutting, I want someone in authority to tell me (it will
be done) and not after six months. I want it to be elevated to an executive
level so someone pays strict attention to what we have to say."

Other councilors were more diplomatic during their speeches.
All said they looked forward to working with the Stimpson administration, with
some referencing the "One Mobile" campaign theme.

"We are one community focused on improving the quality of
life of our citizens as we move forward," Councilman C.J. Small said.

"Mayor Stimpson will be the third city of Mobile
administration I've had a pleasure to work with," Rich said. "There is an old
saying, 'the third time is a charm.' I believe Mayor Stimpson will be that
case."

Councilwoman Gina Gregory, the newly-elected president of
the council, said she looked forward to the city having a "busy four years" in "growing
and prospering."

She said she was proud of district community action groups
and volunteers who "spent so much time to improve" neighborhoods.

"I think we have a great four years ahead," Gregory said.

Councilman John Williams agreed and asked residents to join
the council in moving the city forward.

"We are one community focused on improving the quality of
life of our citizens as we move forward," Williams said, moments after reciting
his lengthy oath of office by memory.

"Together and only together, can we realize the great opportunity
that sets before us," he added.

Councilmen Levon Manzie and Joel Daves – the two newcomers
on the seven-member governing body – also spoke before the crowd and thanked
their family and supporters.

"The pledge I make for you tonight is transparency," Manzie
said. "We can take this city to new heights unthought-of of and unknown if we
work together."

Daves, who said he knocked on 4,300 doors while campaigning
this year in District 5, said he looks forward to working on the future of the
city.

"Over the past 300 years, Mobile has encountered good times
and bad," Daves said. "Beginning tonight, let us work together to create a city
worthy of its long history."

That journey will begin at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, when the new
Mobile City Council and the Stimpson administration meet for the first time
during its first official business meeting.

"This journey is not about one mayor or one council, this
journey is about 'One Mobile,'" Stimpson said. "A transformational moment for
our city to come together and work for a better tomorrow."